Article supporting conveyor apparatus



April 10, 1956 c. M. BLEDSOE ARTICLE SUPPORTING CONVEYOR APPARATUS Filed April 21, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l wmM/ZZZ? h w i W Tibwiillli 111i--- .----i---ii-:-----li A SHHWIJ w Q m, M i h -43 i wi liii j- -3 Q \w & Q Q TQH- \M.\)\( \W\ \N\I\ Nx i N\ m w E w Q MQW ATTORNEYS April 10, 1956 c. M. BLEDSOE 2,741,358

ARTICLE SUPPORTING CONVEYOR APPARATUS Filed April 21, 1955 2 SheetsSheec 2 59 m 20 w /a /7 /5 O 72 z/ 72 2f INVENTOR wm 'zm ATTORNEY-5' ARTICLE SUPPGRTING CGNVEYGR APPARATUS Carl M. Bledsoe, Miami, F 1a., assignor of one-half to Charles E. Cooper, Miami, Fla.

Application Aprii 21, 1953, Serial No. 350,080

3 Claims. (Cl. 198-195) The present invention relates in general to article supporting apparatus, and more particularly to article supporting apparatus of the type having movable article supporting means for facilitating the dispensing of a plurality of aligned articles through one end of the apparatus.

The invention has been particularly designed for use in multiple identical units in delivery trucks and the like to facilitate delivery of merchandise disposed remote from the access door of the truck to a position of easy access.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a novel article supporting unit for transporting articles arranged lengthwise thereof to a readily accessible position at one end of the unit.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel merchandise supporting unit for transporting merchandise arranged lengthwise thereof progressively to one end of the unit, which is characterized by simplicity of construction and operation, ease of maintenance and manufacture, and ready interchangeability.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel merchandise supporting unit for transporting merchandise arranged lengthwise thereof progressively to one end of the unit, which is adaptable for installation in multiple identical units arranged in laterally disposed stacked groups in the compartment of a delivery vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel article supporting unit having adjustably tensioned endless conveyor means for supporting a plurality of articles lengthwise of the unit and delivering the articles progressively to an accessible position at one end thereof.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detail description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing only a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of article supporting apparatus embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the article supporting unit;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the article supporting unit;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal fragmentary section view taken through the rear portion of the article supporting unit along the lines 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a horizontal longitudinal fragmentary section view taken along the lines 55 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section view taken along the lines 66 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, the individual article supporting units, indicated generally by the reference character 10, are designed to be stacked in multiple units forming dispensing supports for diflerent articles of merchandise, and to this end are formed of rectangular supporting frames 11 comprising ited States Patent four elongated angle iron members 12 extending longitudinally of the unit at the four corners thereof, interconnected by a plurality of transverse rectangular frames 13 at the respective ends formed of vertical angle iron members 13' and horizontal angle iron members 13". The angle iron members 13', 13 are each arranged with one of their flanges lying in the plane of the sides of the unit in and are secured together at their ends as by welding or brazing to form the rectangular frame 13 lying in planes perpendicular to the elongated angle iron corner members 12, to which they are likewise secured by welding or brazing. The other flanges of the vertical members 13' extend outwardly of the sides of the unit 10, while the corresponding flanges of the horizontal members 13" all extend downwardly.

An additional angle iron member 14 having an inwardly extending flange 14' is disposed longitudinally at each side of the unit spaced a short distance above the lowermost of the angle iron members 12 to form a supporting track for a portion of the transporting assembly to be later described, and is secured as by welding or brazing to the several angle iron members 13' on each side.

Preferably slats 15 formed of wood or other suitable material are mounted on the innermost faces of the vertical angle iron members 13' at the sides of the unit it) and extending longitudinally of the unit, to form bumper strips for guiding the articles of merchandise along the article supporting unit.

Mounted within each unit in the lower portion thereof and extending the length of the unit is an article supporting and transporting assembly indicated generally by the reference character 16, which comprises an endless belt 17 extending the entire length of the unit. The endless belt 17 is preferably formed of a plurality of cross members 18 forming trucks for supporting the merchandise, each of which cross members 18 are preferably formed with a horizontal web 19 and an integral reenforcing web 24) extending perpendicular thereto from the medial axis of the horizontal web 19. The cross members 18 are provided with downwardly facing U-shaped brackets 21 at each end thereof, each having a pair of transverse pins 22 near each end of each bracket 21 extending between the legs thereof, on which are journaled rollers 23. A pair of links 24 are pivotally coupled to and extend between the adjacent pins of each adjacent pair of cross members 18, the links 24 lying outwardly of the outermost face of each leg of the brackets 21, to intercouple the plurality of cross members 18 and form the endless heir 17.

Between the vertically extending members of the transverse angle iron members 13 at the front end of the unit, illustrated at the'right-hand side of Figure 1, a front sprocket assembly 25 is provided, comprising laterally spaced sprockets 26 and 27 mounted on a shaft 28 extending between journal bearings 29 formed in each of the vertically extending transverse angle iron members 13; The shaft 28 extends through one of the angle iron members 13 to provide an exposed end, onto which a suitable crank 30 is keyed to permit the shaft 28 and sprockets 26, 27, to be manually rotated. j

Likewise, a sprocket assembly 31 is provided at the rearmost end of the unit it) at the left hand end as viewed in Figure 1, to support the rearmost end of the endless belt 17. The rear sprocket assembly 31 comprises a pair of laterally spaced sprockets 32, 33, mounted on individual stub shafts 34 preferably formed of bolts, which are threadedly mounted in adjustable supporting blocks 35 slidably mounted longitudinally of the unit it) in a rectangular block housing 36 fixed to the rectangular frame 11, and adjustably positioned to tension the endless belt 17 by means of an adjustment screw 37 threadedly coupled to the block housing 36 as indicated at 38.

In the preferred embodiment, a backstop member 39 is likewise provided which consists of a generally U-shaped plate of resilient sheet material folded upon itself to provide a pair of legs 40 and having outturned lips 41 at the ends of the legs, so that the lips 41 may be inserted between an adjacent pair of cross members 18 to engage the underside and the adjacent edges of the horizontal web portions 19 of the cross members 18 and frictionally hold the backstop 39 in upstanding relation on the endless belt.

Operation of the present invention is'substantially as follows. The adjusting screw 37 is initially driven into the block housing 36 to a sufiicient degree to tension the endless belt 17 so that the rollers 23 at the upper reach of the endless belt 17 are suspended above the horizontal flange of the intermediate angle iron member 14, as illustrated in detail in Figure 6, while the lower reach of cross members 18 are held in suspended condition spaced above the horizontal flanges of the lowermost corner angle iron members 12. Articles of merchandise may then be loaded into the unit from either end thereof, and are moved forward by sliding abutting articles along the upper reach of the endless belt 17 until they extend continuously along the leng'thof the article supporting unit 1 The backstop 39 may then be inserted between an adjacent pair of cross members 18 at the rear of the rearmost article. V

The aligned series of abutting articles supported on the upper reach of the endless belt 17 may then be progressively delivered to the front end of the unit 1! and removed through the opening at the front end of the frame by rotating the crank 34 thereby driving the sprockets 25, 2'7, and advancing the cross members 18 forming the endless belt 17 toward the front end of the frame 11. The particular arrangement of the endless belt 17 in the frame 11 is particularly designed to support heavy merchandise articles, since if the articles are of sufiicient wei ht to depress the upper reach of the endless belt 17 to any substantial degree the rollers 23 are brought into contact with the iiwardly projecting flange 14 of the intermediate angle iron members 14, the flange 14' forming a track on which the rollers ride to support the weight V of the merchandise articles.

Since the vertically extending flanges of the horizontal angle iron member 13" at each end of the frame 11 extend downwardly, and the lowermost of such horizontal angle iron members 15" are all set outwardly of the frame a distance equal to the width of the flange, the individual units in may be conveniently stacked upon one another, in which event the lowermost angle iron members 13 fit in nested relation over the upper horizontal angle iron members 13" of the lower units, with the vertical flanges of the lower members 13 overlying the outer face of the vertical flanges of the uppermost horizontal members thereof, a plurality of laterally spaced toothed sprockets journaled at each end of said frame, crank means for driving the sprockets at one end of said frame, an endless article supporting belt supported on said sprockets comprising a plurality of cross members having depending downwardly opening U-shaped brackets at each end thereof, horizontal pins journaled in the legs of said brackets, rollers journaled on each of said pins and disposed between the legs of said brackets, and parallel laterally spaced links overlying the opposite faces of the legs of each bracket and interconnecting the pins of the adjacent brackets of successive cross members defining recesses between said links for the reception of the teeth of said sprockets, and an angle iron member extendinglengthwise of each side of said frame having a horizontal flange extending into said channel and spaced slightly below the rollers carried by the cross members lying in the upper reach of said endless belt to support said rollers when depressed into contact therewith.

2. An article supporting unit adapted for installation in multiple units one over the otuer within the body of a delivery truck for the successive delivery of articles supported thereby to one end thereof comprising an open rectangular housing frame defining an elongated delivery channel and formed of an upper and lower horizontally aligned pair of longitudinally extending angle iron members at the corners of said frame and transverse rectangular bracing frames of rigidly interconnected angle iron members secured to said longitudinal angle iron members at the ends thereof, a plurality of laterally spaced toothed sprocketsjournaled at each end of said housing frame,

crank means for driving the sprockets at one end of said housing frame, an endless article supporting belt supported on said sprockets comprising a plurality of cross members having depending downwardly openin g U-shaped brackets at each end thereof, horizontal pins journaled in the legs of said brackets, rollers journaled on each of said 13" of the, lower unit. This serves to hold the vertically stacked group of units it? against displacement longitudinally of the units in the direction of motion of the vehicle in which such units are carried.

While but one particular embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described, it is apparent that various modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article supporting unitadapted for installation in multiple units'one over the other within the body of a delivery truck for the successive delivery of articles suprted thereby to one end thereof comprising an open rectangular housing frame defining an elongated delivery channel and formed of an upper and lower horizontally aligned pair of longitudinally extending angle iron members defining the longitudinal'corners of said frame and transverse bracing angle iron members rigidly interconnecting said longitudinal angle iron members at the ends pins and disposed between the legs of said brackets, and parallel laterally spaced links overlying the opposite faces of the legs of each bracket and interconnecting the pins of the adjacent brackets of successive cross members defining recesses between said links for the reception of the teeth of said sprockets, an angle iron member extending lengthwise of each side of said housing frame having a horizontal flange extending into said channel and spaced slightly below the rollers carried by the cross members lying in the upper reach of said endless beltto support said rollers when'depressed into contact therewith, and

said bracing frames including upper and lower horizontal angle iron members each having a downwardly extending flange, the lowermost of said horizontal angle iron members being offset outwardly of the uppermost horizontal angle iron members a distance equal to the thickness of said flanges to nest in intimate contact with the uppermost horizontal angle iron members of a next lower identical rectangular housing frame when one of such housing Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,026,617 Turnbull May 4, 1912 1,586,382 Reed May 25, 1926 2,140,974 Wagner et al Dec. 20, 1938 

